Filmmaker / Visual Artist

‘8’ screening

Last night my new short film ‘8’ saw it’s first private screening. Devised in solidarity with the ‘Repeal the Eighth‘ campaign in Ireland that is fighting for Ireland’s abortion law to be brought to referendum, ‘8’ responds to the lack of choice for women in Ireland regarding bodily autonomy and reproductive choices. ‘Eire’ – the Irish word for Ireland – makes reference to ‘old’ Ireland & symbolises that my body is not my own but, indeed, belongs to Ireland. Abortion is illegal in Ireland, where the Eighth Amendment of the constitution equates the right to life of a pregnant woman with that of an embryo or foetus. In doing so, it criminalises abortion in all cases except where to continue a pregnancy would result in death. Medical practitioners can lose their licence, or face jail time, if they offer advice to women in need of abortions. Every day 12 women are forced to travel to the UK to have abortions and aftercare in Ireland is minimal for those who have to travel.